Irl be seeing ya

It’s only been a week since the last post but I’ve been away again and so you lot get to read about it again. This time, destination: Northern Ireland. Mission: Adams Family Reunion. No not the film, I might have fit in better with those weirdos, rather than throwing a Protestant in with a bunch of Irish Catholics. Truth be told I don’t even believe in God but somehow I think maybe that’s worse so I’ll keep that quiet.

Very early morning wake up for the flight, which went without much of a hitch to be honest. Of all people to see in the airport we saw Adams nephew who was on his way to Dubai. Nineteen and travelling around by himself. Good on him I say.

Adam said he was going looking for a sketchbook and I thought he was joking as there’s a bit in a comedy we have been watching recently where he’s trying to find a sketchbook and so I was laughing at him and he just looked confused. Then I realised he was serious and I was laughing at his, albeit new found, artistic dreams. Unfortunately the only sketchbook in the airport was £30. It wasn’t going to happen.

A very short hop over the sea to Belfast International AirPort where we then picked up the rental car. I did offer to drive but Catherine (Adams mum) said she would drive and so took the wheel.

We went to a town called Moira for some breakfast and then onwards to Newry to the Canal Court Hotel which was home for the next two days. The room wasn’t ready and so we decided to make use of the leisure facilities and the leisure facilities decided to make use of our humour. We were told we had to wear compulsory swimming caps for the pool and handed these Lycra red and white things. Are they joking? They want me to wear this cap in the pool and they don’t expect me to look THIS good? Quite frankly I think it’s a drowning hazard for the other guests. Quite the distraction.

Although, today my friend randomly text with a picture of her in a compulsory swim cap from her holiday, not knowing about my experience and I was saving it for this, and my other friend pointed out my cap looked more like the game where you throw balls at your head and aim for them to stick. I thought we looked like a family of gnomes.

Once the room was ready we had a quick nap and then on to Warren Point which was sort of the seaside and had a fairly disappointing fish and chips. Nice place, bad plaice.

On to Rostrevor, where Catherine grew up, lots of stories on the way of ‘The Troubles.’ I didn’t really ever realise how bad the conflict was over here before. Now I definitely know. You can still see the religious divide today.

Catherine’s brother and his family were staying in a lovely little cottage and so we dropped in on them to say a fairly short hello and then back to the hotel bar for a drink. Non alcoholic for myself. Not much of a drinker these days. Not since the incident 👀

Absolutely shattered on two hours sleep I managed to drift off really quickly. You’ll note I didn’t really say much about the room earlier. It was the exact opposite of last week’s hotel. Very dated. Hadn’t been refurbished since the 70’s, thread bare carpet, had to put a pound in the TV to use it.

Next day awake to experience the breakfast. Nice enough actually. Got to experience a new type of bread ‘wheaten bread’ which was bloody lovely. Textured and sweet. A bit like me.

We walked to the nearby shopping centres for a quick peek. Catherine and I almost bought our own swim caps to try to see if we could get it to catch on but I just couldn’t do that to all you English men.

Managed to buy Adam a sketchbook and so he was happy.

After our shopping trip it was party time. Back off to Rostrevor to the family rental for an afternoon buffet and fun. I have to say my highlight was Catherine and Gary (Adams dad) playing snap with animal cards. Not the two children, Catherine and Gary. Especially when he got really competitive and tried to get the edge on Catherine by starting the word off and just sort of humming snnnnnnn. Sounded a bit like Kryton. I was expecting a smeeeeg heeeeaaadd. But what he actually shouted in the excitement of it all was ‘SNOT.’ Catherine won. A few of them went for a little walk but I had not worn sensible shoes and so I stayed behind at the house and had a minute with Adam’s cousin Gemma who is lovely. She’s a dentist. I told her about a dental practice we saw the day before called Gentle Dental and I said she should pinch the name.

Back at the hotel we had a bit of a meal, then back to the room. Adam started his art career that night. I asked him what he was drawing and he said sadness. So, you know, I guess that’s what that looks like.

Check out today so breakfast and then frantic packing. Not by me, I packed last night. Then off to Newcastle (less way aye and more weee eeee) which was a little seaside resort. Catherine told us about her earliest memory of being in a pushchair and losing her hairbrush in a shop. Adam went and asked in the shop if they still had it and would you believe it?! They didn’t.

On the way back I spotted a Joke Shop and I have to say the biggest jokes were in the window. I also found something to help the NHS with cost cutting.

We had afternoon tea in another very dated hotel which was very nice and then the two hour drive to the airport. It’s only supposed to take one hour but Catherine likes to drive at half the speed limit just in case.

I’m writing this on the plane as it gives me something to do while sat here with no internet for 40 mins. Adam has decided to do another drawing. I am not going to ask about the meaning of this one. I might just send this to his GP as soon as we land. If you’re reading this I’m guessing we did land and the picture didn’t happen.